◄ Jeremiah 48:10 ►
Cursed is the one who is remiss in doing the work of the LORD, and cursed is he who withholds his sword from bloodshed.
Study Bible
Cursed is the one who is remiss in doing the work of the LORD
This phrase emphasizes the seriousness of neglecting God's commands. In the context of Jeremiah 48, the prophet is delivering a message of judgment against Moab, a nation that had often been in conflict with Israel. The "work of the LORD" here refers to carrying out God's judgment against Moab. Historically, the Israelites were often used as instruments of divine justice, and failing to fulfill this role was seen as disobedience. This concept is echoed in other scriptures, such as 1 Samuel 15:22-23, where Saul's incomplete obedience leads to his rejection as king. The idea of being "cursed" for neglecting God's work underscores the covenantal relationship between God and His people, where blessings and curses were contingent upon obedience (Deuteronomy 28).

and cursed is he who withholds his sword from bloodshed
This part of the verse highlights the necessity of executing divine judgment. In ancient Near Eastern culture, warfare was often seen as a means of enacting divine will. The "sword" symbolizes the instrument of God's justice, and withholding it implies a failure to carry out God's commands. This is reminiscent of the command given to Saul in 1 Samuel 15 to completely destroy the Amalekites, which he failed to do, resulting in God's displeasure. Theologically, this can be seen as a type of Christ, who will execute perfect justice at His second coming (Revelation 19:11-16). The imagery of the sword is also used in the New Testament to describe the Word of God (Hebrews 4:12), indicating the power and authority of divine judgment.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Jeremiah
A major prophet in the Old Testament, known for his prophecies concerning the judgment of Judah and surrounding nations, including Moab.

2. Moab
A nation east of Israel, often in conflict with the Israelites. Jeremiah 48 is a prophecy against Moab, pronouncing judgment for their pride and idolatry.

3. The LORD's Work
Refers to the tasks and commands given by God, which in this context involves executing judgment against Moab.

4. Sword
Symbolizes the instrument of God's judgment. In this context, it represents the execution of divine justice.

5. Cursed
A pronouncement of divine disfavor or judgment upon those who fail to carry out God's commands faithfully.
Teaching Points
Faithful Obedience
God requires complete and sincere obedience to His commands. Half-hearted or deceitful service is unacceptable and brings a curse.

Divine Justice
God's justice is a serious matter, and His instruments (like the sword) must be used as He directs. We must not shy away from difficult tasks He assigns.

Integrity in Service
Serving God with integrity means not only doing what is right but doing it with the right heart and motives.

Consequences of Disobedience
There are serious consequences for failing to carry out God's commands fully. This serves as a warning to examine our own obedience.

Spiritual Warfare
The imagery of the sword reminds us of the spiritual battles we face. We must be prepared to engage fully in the spiritual work God calls us to.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does the context of Jeremiah 48:10 help us understand the seriousness of doing God's work deceitfully?

2. In what ways can we ensure that we are not withholding our "sword" in the spiritual battles we face today?

3. Reflect on a time when you may have done the work of the Lord half-heartedly. What steps can you take to serve with greater integrity?

4. How does the account of King Saul in 1 Samuel 15 illustrate the consequences of incomplete obedience to God?

5. How can we apply the principle of James 4:17 to ensure we are fully obedient to God's commands in our daily lives?
Connections to Other Scriptures
1 Samuel 15
The account of King Saul's incomplete obedience in destroying the Amalekites, which led to his rejection as king. This highlights the importance of complete obedience to God's commands.

Revelation 3:15-16
The message to the church in Laodicea about being lukewarm, which parallels the idea of doing God's work deceitfully or half-heartedly.

James 4:17
The principle that knowing the right thing to do and failing to do it is sin, which aligns with the warning against withholding the sword from bloodshed.
Sermons
Cursed LazinessJoseph Muir.Jeremiah 48:10
Doing the Work of Jehovah DeceitfullyD. Young Jeremiah 48:10
Doing the Work of the Lord DeceitfullyS. Conway Jeremiah 48:10
Half-And-Half ReligionJeremiah 48:10
Of Lukewarmness and ZealBp. Jeremy Taylor.Jeremiah 48:10
The Sin of Lukewarmness in AcquiringG. Mathew, M. A.Jeremiah 48:10
People
Chemosh, Gamul, Jeremiah, Sihon, Zoar
Places
Arnon, Aroer, Beth-diblathaim, Bethel, Beth-gamul, Beth-meon, Bozrah, Dibon, Elealeh, Heshbon, Holon, Horonaim, Jahaz, Jahzah, Jazer, Kerioth, Kir-hareseth, Kiriathaim, Luhith, Madmen, Mephaath, Moab, Nebo, Nimrim, Sea of Jazer, Sibmah, Zoar
Topics
Blood, Bloodshed, Curse, Cursed, Deceitfully, Half-heartedly, Keepeth, Keeps, Lax, Lord's, Negligently, Restrains, Slack, Slackness, Slothfully, Sword, Withholding
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Jeremiah 48:10

     5802   care
     5885   indifference

Library
August 8. "Be Like the Dove" (Jer. Xlviii. 28).
"Be like the dove" (Jer. xlviii. 28). Harmless as a dove, is Christ's interpretation of the beautiful emblem. And so the Spirit of God is purity itself. He cannot dwell in an unclean heart. He cannot abide in the natural mind. It was said of the anointing of old, "On man's flesh it shall not be poured." The purity which the Holy Spirit brings is like the white and spotless little plant which grows up out of the heap of manure, or the black soil, without one grain of impurity adhering to its crystalline …
Rev. A. B. Simpson—Days of Heaven Upon Earth

How those are to be Admonished who Decline the Office of Preaching Out of Too Great Humility, and those who Seize on it with Precipitate Haste.
(Admonition 26.) Differently to be admonished are those who, though able to preach worthily, are afraid by reason of excessive humility, and those whom imperfection or age forbids to preach, and yet precipitancy impells. For those who, though able to preach with profit, still shrink back through excessive humility are to be admonished to gather from consideration of a lesser matter how faulty they are in a greater one. For, if they were to hide from their indigent neighbours money which they possessed …
Leo the Great—Writings of Leo the Great

Balaam's Prophecy. (Numb. xxiv. 17-19. )
Carried by the Spirit into the far distant future, Balaam sees here how a star goeth out of Jacob and a sceptre riseth out of Israel, and how this sceptre smiteth Moab, by whose enmity the Seer had been brought from a distant region for the destruction of Israel. And not Moab only shall be smitten, but its southern neighbour, Edom, too shall be subdued, whose hatred against Israel had already been prefigured in its ancestor, and had now begun to display Itself; and In general, all the enemies of …
Ernst Wilhelm Hengstenberg—Christology of the Old Testament

Meditations for the Sick.
Whilst thy sickness remains, use often, for thy comfort, these few meditations, taken from the ends wherefore God sendeth afflictions to his children. Those are ten. 1. That by afflictions God may not only correct our sins past, but also work in us a deeper loathing of our natural corruptions, and so prevent us from falling into many other sins, which otherwise we would commit; like a good father, who suffers his tender babe to scorch his finger in a candle, that he may the rather learn to beware …
Lewis Bayly—The Practice of Piety

The Section Chap. I. -iii.
The question which here above all engages our attention, and requires to be answered, is this: Whether that which is reported in these chapters did, or did not, actually and outwardly take place. The history of the inquiries connected with this question is found most fully in Marckius's "Diatribe de uxore fornicationum," Leyden, 1696, reprinted in the Commentary on the Minor Prophets by the same author. The various views may be divided into three classes. 1. It is maintained by very many interpreters, …
Ernst Wilhelm Hengstenberg—Christology of the Old Testament

The Prophet Joel.
PRELIMINARY REMARKS. The position which has been assigned to Joel in the collection of the Minor Prophets, furnishes an external argument for the determination of the time at which Joel wrote. There cannot be any doubt that the Collectors were guided by a consideration of the chronology. The circumstance, that they placed the prophecies of Joel just between the two prophets who, according to the inscriptions and contents of their prophecies, belonged to the time of Jeroboam and Uzziah, is …
Ernst Wilhelm Hengstenberg—Christology of the Old Testament

Jeremiah
The interest of the book of Jeremiah is unique. On the one hand, it is our most reliable and elaborate source for the long period of history which it covers; on the other, it presents us with prophecy in its most intensely human phase, manifesting itself through a strangely attractive personality that was subject to like doubts and passions with ourselves. At his call, in 626 B.C., he was young and inexperienced, i. 6, so that he cannot have been born earlier than 650. The political and religious …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

Links
Jeremiah 48:10 NIV
Jeremiah 48:10 NLT
Jeremiah 48:10 ESV
Jeremiah 48:10 NASB
Jeremiah 48:10 KJV

Jeremiah 48:10 Commentaries

Bible Hub
Jeremiah 48:9
Top of Page
Top of Page